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I watched the movie The Help over the weekends, and I must say, the story is a story of Courage.

Courage has always been a beautiful word for me. It’s like a secret chant you say to yourself which instantly delivers a wonderful amount of bravery and confidence. When uncertainty lingers at the porch of your mind, trying to quaff every single barrel of your sunshine, Courage will make you believe that there’s nothing wrong being in the dark for a while. Courage trusts that you’ll find the light. That’s what Courage does, it makes you Hope. And Hope shares the same attributes of Courage: beautiful.(I abuse the word beautiful so much, but, there’s no other way I can describe these two.)

The movie was set in a far away past where racial discrimination was still eminent in the United States of America – the Blacks serve as helpers in White people’s residences. However, their rights has always been disregarded. It makes me feel lighter, though, when I saw that not all White people are prejudiced; take Skeeter, a journalist who pushed for the Helpers to share their side of story with their service at the White people’s houses. Although, all her efforts might have been for naught if not for the willingness of Abiliene to support.

Skeeter and Abiliene were the two lead persons in the movie who took a stand and choose – what many people in their time, won’t – Courage. What’s very crucial about Courage is that it has to be chosen. You have to choose to be courageous. Nobody else can do it for you.

Despite the fact that Skeeter and Abiliene (together with the other Helpers) could be in grave danger, they still do what they had to do: act against racism and seek equality between the Colored and the Whites. They started a revolution, a spark for change. And I believe, they contributed a big part in the freedom of all cultures and races America is experiencing today. Imagine if they didn’t do anything when the very circumstance they’re in is asking them to make a stand? We, humans, most times don’t act out when we need to; afraid of so many things that would expose us in possible danger. Courage, often requires sacrifice – of our own time, money, talent, and even comfort – for the greater good. We have it all inside of us, we have the capacity to be brave, we have been given the ability to serve. It’s just that, sometimes, we tend to forget.

Yes, you is (also) brave.

When things go way out of hand and you tremble to your knees as you are shaken to the core, hold hands with Courage, do not let go. When every single molecule of your being wants you to run away and escape the grind of tomorrow, behold Courage in the eye, as long as his eyes flicker, don’t lose hope. When there’s too much fear in your heart and you can’t keep the tears anymore, look up, Courage is always looking down.

To have Courage is not to rely on your own strength. To have Courage is to surrender all your weaknesses in the hands of an Almighty God, entrusting every small portions of your life into His bigger plans for your future – be prepared to witness His power working in you. To have Courage is not to be free from fear, Fear is a healthy friend. To have Courage is bringing Fear with you in skydiving; no matter the struggle, it will remind you that you have wings – you are meant to fly. To have Courage is not to go through life easy. To have Courage is to embrace life in all of its uncertainties.

I don’t want to write this down because my feelings are still in chaos; letting go ain’t easy, my friend. Haha! Kidding :) But yes, this might be the last time that I will be writing an update about Somedaydream (I know, I know) and I won’t miss it for the world. :)

If you had been following this blog for quite sometime now, like for a year or two, you’ll know that I had been an avid supporter of this OPM band. Everything you want to read from all my previous blog posts related to it will be found here and here. Today’s update will be something different, though. It will all be about Somedaydream songs! :D Are you ready?

In the last Sunday of June, Somedaydream gave away his last album for free! Highlight and hashtag that: #itsforfreepeople #legitdownloads #downloadnow!!!

After Tonight 2010 EP is an actualization of what Somedaydream wanted to share to the local music industry ever since. The album contains eight tracks: three new songs, three songs that came out in the past years and two covers. Let’s take a tour to each of the new songs and I’ll let you know what I thought and felt upon hearing it and digging deeper on what each of those songs meant. I had to listen to it for three nights so I can come up with this sort of album review (pa-try lang ha, hehe). I don’t have any musical knowledge, this is solely of my own opinion. :)

Call Me Crazy

Favorite Lines:

~ Your pretty eyes — no, they never fail to make me smile.

~ “What a fool!” my Muse use to call me, for saying those words when I don’t know what they meant.

~ So we can fly through the skies with fireflies. We will be gliding through the fog, we won’t be needing a ride. It’s over one day, we get to lose our way. Hey, bring back the flames tonight! (hopefully, I got this line right, I really like this)

I didn’t like the concept of the song the very first time I heard it. In my mind, the line that goes something like: All those beautiful girls they have a habit of making boys crazy is unfair! HAHA I really thought that the song is dedicated to beautiful girls only and it’s not fair for us (the more beautiful ones haha kidd)! :P Women, you are beautiful no matter, remember that.

Well, I got it all wrong. I focused on that part when the song is so much more than just it. I know, right? My emotions are malalang wala sa ayos sometimes! Sorry for my misunderstanding. :) It is a beautiful love song — wanting to rekindle a love that has gone through a fault yet stayed and was never lost. Cool, no? It is always waiting between the lines of Hope and Never Giving Up. Love should be something you are willing to fight for and at the same time discerning when to give up the fight :)

Oh, the arrangement of music (which was so good) reminded me so much of saving Princess Peach, haha, especially on this next one…

M.O.S.

Favorite Lines:
~ It’s true, I’ve been wanting to kiss you. And you know that it’s taking forever for me to finally tell you that I love you.

When I learned that M.O.S. stands for Make Out Session, I had to think twice about this song. And I just wanted to tell the kids (teens): no, I’m not that super older than you, but, please save yourself up for marriage and don’t make out. Do yourself a favor. If you think making out is cool and what’s uso these days, please beg to differ and respect your body. There, I said it, going back to the song! :)

The melody to the very first line Hello wants me to tie in it’s a brand new day, say hooray for today! HAHA Kidding :) the way the piano was played after the bridge is very artistic, it’s so gentle, I like it. It adds to the kilig factor of the song. What I actually adore was the mix of Tagalog lyrics on M.O.S! That was a smart move right there. You don’t expect it, it just happen. The Tagalog lyrics are right where they should be. It’s really #classic. Nakakatuwa!

Call Me Crazy and M.O.S. are light, cheerful and simply happy songs! It’s that type of music that you would want to listen to when you get busted by a guy or girl you like. It will help you smile it all away. It eases up ones mood. :)

This next song, though, is my ultimate favorite out of the new songs that Somedaydream released. I can smell pain on this one and I like it. To make things clear, I like it not because I’m happy that someone’s in pain but this song made me recognize the feeling of this kind of pain I felt before. Gets? Haha #kakalitogrammarkoAccording to our good friend John Green, pain demands to be felt. This song demanded me to feel the pain. What is, you may ask?

~ You might think that I’m not that into you, you should know that I’ve always wanted you.

~ It’s alright you won’t see me after tonight. Let’s bury our memories of you and I singing under the stars, ‘coz it won’t mean a thing to me. To you, it won’t a mean a thing to you. </3

~ You want me to want you more, but honestly, I couldn’t want you more than this.

~ And I realized that night I’m sure I got you, it’s such a shame that I got my steady arms around you but I let you slip away. </3 </3

~ And I realized your eyes will never look at me this way ‘coz you have come to keep your memories with him. (yes, this kind of pain is what I’m talking about)

This song is about an almost-love, almost-commitment, almost-forever kind of love song. Ha! It’s so sad and beautiful. It’s like, we are almost there, it’s almost love but then we had to let each other go. You just wanna flip tables and chairs, don’t you?

If I were to be in a break-up situation, I’ll listen to this song. It’s too unbearable that it will let me cry out all the pain and feel it with every muscle and heartbeat. It’ll make me feel alive.

Hi, I’m Kriselle. You don’t know me, but, I had been a fan of your craft since the early 2011s.

***

Being the radio junkie that I am, when there’s a new song that comes up and it’s good, I always take a mental note of it. Most of the time, the music that I took note of either got my soul on its lyrics, its rhythm or both. And I happen to bumped with your Hey Daydreamer song that came out on the radio in that first quarter of 2011 and it grew on me.

At that time, I really thought it was something from Owl City. However, I had to rethink it again since my guesses and the voice on the song don’t match. And so, I had to scratch out Adam Young from the equation. But I’m positive that it’s something foreign until you appeared and played live at Magic’s Top 5 at 5 (now PopStop). Upon seeing you, the looks of sincerity in the way you deliver your song (plus your charm), I instantly loved HD more.

Well, HD is not the type of a song with a very metaphorical lyrics (the types of songs that I like) but it just makes you feel light. It’s something fresh. It’s electro pop and OPM (!!!). And the fact that it was only arranged and written by one person was amazing; that was pure talent I saw there and that made me decide to track down what could be in store for this new band: Somedaydream.

***

I always liked the name of your one-man band. When you were getting all the attention from the music scene, I felt that the words Somedaydream was an encouragement for yourself and everyone that they could also, one day, achieve what they had worked and dreamed of. And you, you were living your passion – music. I hope you know that you had inspired many. You always kept your feet on the ground, appreciating and messaging your fans whenever you can – that made them (us) appreciate you more. I guess, you always knew the value of giving and sharing your time to people.

I had never been this much of a fan to other OPM artists out there before. Although I am a fan of some, I never really followed them like the way I had followed you. I’m not sure what made me do so but I think I do a lot of spontaneous and cray things whenever my Inspirational Tank is filled – at some point, you made it overflow. I got this thing for people who inspire others to be their best and I’ve seen that in you; you “inspired” me to be my best. And that’s why, I think, I considered myself a Dreamer (the way you address your supporters) and there’s a lot of work to be done to achieve thy dreams.

***

You are now in a new state of your life where you are making decisions based on your courage and your principles. The day you wrote back to your supporters, updating them on what’s gonna happen next, we were all thrilled since you had been in too long of a break. You were in a lighter mood in that letter, disclosing all your previous and future plans and your decision to release your last Somedaydream album. Believe me, I am giddy to see it but I also wished that you would prolong its release; because once you do release it, we might not see Somedaydream anymore. Sometimes, I just don’t like the idea of losing something of great value. At least for me, and to your other supporters. I think, the music industry needs something of a fresh vision, of a young mind, of a new face – people like you.

Finally, this will be my last contribution to “OPM”. After this, it’s official: I am not “OPM”.

I don’t know how to react when I read this. It makes me sad. Your new song (After Tonight) makes me sad too, especially the lines,

It’s alright, you won’t see me after tonight
Let’s bury our memories of you and I singing under the stars
It won’t mean thing a to me, to you
To you, it won’t mean a thing to you

I don’t know if I got the lyrics right but I’m just so sad to see you go. :( Minsan, medyo OA ako, pero na-sad kase ako talaga.

Even when you wrote that song in 2010, I felt every line of it today. Being a symbolic person that I (too) am, even I think this is quite a love song, I felt that this is you saying goodbye. I just want you to know that I don’t understand your whole reason yet. Or, I just don’t want to understand it at all. #whyRezwhy

All good things come to an end. I’m hanging to your words: we can start a new movement. Your leaving, I guess, is a birth for a new beginning. We know (hope) that you’ll be back, although not as Somedaydream, but someone who is in the process of helping and reaching out for somebody else to reach their dreams — for themselves, for the people they care for, for their passion and for our local music industry.

Somedaydream will always always mean a thing to me, to us. It will mean a thing to us. :)

I had discovered a new way to battle stress and earn inspiration and that is: to run! Haha! :)

I had made a schedule of T-Th-S run nights and thank God for will power and discipline, I was at it for a month now (not counting last week since I got a full sched and wasn’t able to do some runs). And since I was stressed out yesternight – don’t worry, my primary cause of stress is myself, I think a lot about this thing I should be doing yet I’m not putting in the effort to finish it which causes my hormones to strain my neck and give me severe headaches – I decided that it was the right time to revamp my Run Game. The last week run that I had was just below the target line of the previous runs so I’m trying my hardest to get back on that run-game-face. But my new found passion for running is not the sole purpose of this entry (I could talk about that some other time soon).

Just got carried away at the moment. Sorry.

I run at Track 30 in Bonifacio Global City because it’s nice to run there and it’s just fifteen-jeepney-minutes away from our house. To go there, I shall pass through Market Market then Bonifcaio High Street then to Track 30. Btdubs, BHS will be the setting of the story. (haba lang ng intro lol)

As I was on my way home yesternight, I passed by a Street Performer whom was also there when I was on my way to my run. Did you get that? Pardon my English; it’s just messed up sometimes. The Street Performer got an old OPM song lined up that night and when he sang the chorus as I was passing by him, it just really gives me the feels. THE. FEELS. You know how a song works and stir your core, right? That’s what it did at that moment and it made me think of many many things to which also reminded me of a love story a Pastor at our church shared last Sunday.

The story was about a mother’s love for her daughter who left their village to pursue the life in the city. At such a young age, the daughter thought that if she will get into the city, she will live the life that she has always dreamed of. One day she left home without saying goodbye to her mother. When the mother found out that her daughter was gone, she sold everything she have and went looking for her in the city because she knew that that’s the place her daughter went. In the city, she printed out photos of her daughter and posted it in every hotel in the hope to find her. Months passed and she doesn’t have anything that would lead to her daughter and so she went back to the village. After a few years, the daughter’s life became chaotic and hopeless; as she was walking down the streets, at a shady hotel she found a familiar photo by the window, she recognized that the little girl in the photo was her, she knew that her mother went looking for her when she ran from home. She looked at the back of the photo and saw her mother’s handwriting:

Wherever you are, whatever you have done, whatever you have become, I love you. Please come home.

The daughter did and she was reconciled with her mother. Love. That was just pure love of a mother.

From the OPM song that I heard from the Street Performer, the line that captured my soul was:

And I thought the Lord was speaking to me just like the mother’s handwriting spoke to the heart of her daughter in the love story.

When I got home, the first thing I did is to search for the title and the whole lyrics of the song since it was years ago when I heard it. The title of the OPM song was Wag Ka Nang Umiyak (Please Don’t Cry) by Sugarfree.

I know that it’s a love song (for a person) but I really feel that this is what God is saying to each one of us.

You know, it is a fact that the Lord loves us. It will never ever change no matter what the circumstances in our life are or how we respond to them, etc etc. Jesus loves us, it’s a constant. The question is, do we love Him? Do we love our Father that we would want to hold on to Him when everything around us fails and falls? He is always there looking out for us and it’s not because of what we’ve done, it is because He is what He is. He is love. He loves us. He’s there for us not because we are great but because He is great.

And that’s why we love Him, because He first loved us.

The song is just too sweet of a reminder: Kumapit ka sa Akin at hindi Kita bibitawan (hold on to Me and I will never let you go). We only need to run… Run to the arms of our One true GOD! :)

PS: Wag Ka Nang Umiyak was such a bad title for this song. I was teary-eyed when I felt every line of it. Haha! Ain’t it so good? Thank you Lord for music! #nakakakiligKalang :)

Year 2011 when we first heard that The Script is going to perform in Manila for their album For the First Time. Those were the days when we are cramming most of our projects in school, finishing our required hours in our OJTs, preparing for graduation and all that stuff. Back then, we couldn’t afford to go watch the concert and it made us sad, yes, but we know (we are positive) that the Irish band will come back soon…and they did!!! :)

Around November of last year, I got the news that they will be performing March 31st, 2013. I wasn’t so sure at first if I could get to watch them, but the thought of not seeing them live for the second time, it’s kind of disturbing. Haha! So, when opportunities come and grab your hands, you should take it and never let go. Lol. What am I saying?

Happy folks! :)

We almost got bumped to Gen Ad since the tix were selling out really fast but there is Hope showing us that yes, we could do a little better than that. Lol. And we were so happy even we purch our tix mid-Feb na. :P (That lady up there is my friend Mayu. We wished that the Tomblrs [our kikay barkada..lol..KIDDING!] could watch with us too. There is a time for everything though. :D)

We were even more giddy when the 31st of March came in!

As for me, The Script would be the first mainstream foreign band I will watch…ever. I know that they are fantastic; their songs, their lyrics, they’re genius! I got some expectations and I believe that ALL of those were met and so much more when I got to watch them live! Haha! It was amazing!

I videoed some of the performances.. well, I wanted to video it all but I only got an iTouch and it’s only 8gb (and the previous days were hectic, hence I wasn’t able to empty it so I could save more videos) ergo, I wasn’t able to do just that. Ha! :P Anyways, I still got some vids to show you pa naman, don’t fret. Lol. (kung maka-show, my vids naman are not HD vids. HAHA)

The Script opened the show with their single Good Ol’ Days – which happens to be one of my favorite songs in their #3 album – and just like that, the whole crowd went crazy. It was sooooo magical! The concert started 8.45pm and lasted for about an hour and a half.

I think it really is heart warming for an artist to hear their fans sing along with every song they lined up in their concert…and I think Manila gave that warm to The Script. In every song, you’ll hear the voice in Araneta. :)

I just wanna cry when they sang this. It’s different when you hear it live. Parang ang sarap na lang magkabrokenheart. :P

It was surprising when they performed Science and Faith. Since it’s the #3 World Tour, I thought, all of the songs they’re gonna be playing will be from that album. But no. I hoped to hear this song so when it did come out I was jumping up and down! Literally! HAHA! I just loved every line on this! :)

“The best thing I like about you guys is you sing. You definitely sing the whole song…you know the songs better than I do!” -Danny O’Donoghue to Filipino fans

Hashtag: #kiligtothebones

This was the very first song that started it all! Glorious! :’)

This song is my ultimate favorite from the #3 album! It just hits you to the core! Those were lyrics made of blood and soul. (And it’s a song for my dad. :D)

There were other exceptional songs that were performed which I wasn’t able to capture in the lens but most definitely is kept in my heart and memory. There was one time when Mark asked the audience to take out their phones and call their exes; Danny got a phone from one of the audience in the VIP area who solely followed Mark’s instructions. Lol. And that’s when he sang Nothing…over the phone!!! How swerte the person on the other line! And we just all die of kilig! Oh, and I think I would want to be broken hearted talaga if Danny would sing that song over the phone for me. #ohlife

Their encore on You Won’t Feel a Thing was a wild one too since they surprised everyone when they performed again. Danny appeared in the Patron area going to the stage = Crazy!

The Script gave an astonishing performance! And they were generous too when they sang Good Ol’ Days one more time to end the concert. :) I am thankful that I was there.

Mayu and I sang in all fourteen songs that were played in the duration of the concert (15 songs in total if we will count Good Ol’ Days since they sang it two times..sweet!). Six of which were from their first album: We Cry, Before the Worst, Talk You Down, The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, Breakeven and I’m Yours. And four each on their second: You Won’t Feel a Thing, For the First Time, Nothing and Science and Faith; and third album: Good Ol’ Days, If You Could See Me Now, Six Degrees of Separation and Hall of Fame. Talk about #lakasmakafan. Hihi. :D

And I can say, our Irish friends enjoyed performing for the Filipinos too! :)

I hope that they will be back soon! Like next-year-kind-of-soon! Haha! It was definitely a night to remember.

In the future, this will be the good ol’ days. #maisingitlang :P

Mission accomplished! <3 (Mayu and I agreed to get VIP tix when they come back! We wanted to see Danny up close!!!! Lol.)

I never really looked into your eyes
till late this morning
I wore shades of brown
You couldn’t see the part of me
I hid from you so well

How many lines do we still need
How many walks, unending talks to put me to sleep
You sat me down and patted my head
Oh strange but sweet
Basically that’s you and me’

Half truths, half lies
I never really knew you until now
Lost in the moment somehow
My fears walked out and left
I never really saw you
as anything but my bestfriend

How many lines do we still need
How many walks, unending talks to put me to sleep
You sat me down and patted my head
Oh strange but sweet
Basically that’s you and me’

Truth be told, I never thought
I’d find a love at all
Resigned to the fact that i’ll always be alone

Just when I chilled
You walked in
Gave me flowers everyday
Sad song started to fade away

Now tell me again who wrote our story and set up each scene

Picture perfect from the start
You my friend are set apart
Are set apart are set apart

How many lines do we still need
How many walks, unending talks to put me to sleep
You sat me down and patted my head
Oh strange but sweet
Basically that’s you and me

How many lines do we still need
How many walks, unending talks to put me to sleep
You sat me down and patted my head
Oh strange but sweet
Basically that’s you and me

Basically that’s you and me
Basically that’s you and me

~Because I’m super loving this song. Feel-good lang especially the part where it says: Just when I chilled / You walked in / Gave me flowers everyday / Sad song started to fade away–I would love to sing this for future boyfie (if ever I will have one). :)

Dear Big Guy, I really want one. But, if You would want me to be single for the rest of my life, help me to acce no I know I’m not meant for that. Haha. Sometimes, all my hopes and desires of being in a relationship takes over; then, I always remember Pastor Peter Tan-Chi: If you’re happy single, you’ll be happier married.

I wanna be a happy single. I am. Though I got this-and-that feelings one too many times…ok let’s stick with being single + happy! :D

Just to add, though, d’you know what the Lord impressed on me when I was in my Prayer and Fasting Week which I truly feel connected with what I’m feeling right now? Before you can create one big happy relationship with just about anyone, you need to be satisfied with His presence first. Our relationship with Him is the basis of all other relationships that we have or could have–it’s our choice between the stone or sand. Oh yes! Cheers!

I hear You say
‘My love is over. It’s underneath.
It’s inside. It’s in between.
The times you doubt Me, when you can’t feel
The times that you question, ‘Is this for real?’
The times your broken
The times that you mend
The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend

Well, my love is over, it’s underneath.
It’s inside, it’s in between.
These times you’re healing and when your heart breaks
The times that you feel like you’re falling from grace
The times you’re hurting
The times that you heal
The times you go hungry and are tempted to steal
The times of confusion, in chaos and pain
I’m there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame
I’m there through your heartache
I’m there in the storm

My love I will keep you by my pow’r alone
I don’t care where you fall, where you have been
I’ll never forsake you,
My love never ends
It never ends.’